People flock to their local grocery and party stores to buy candy and balloons for the people they care about.

However, the popular metallic balloons could have costly and dangerous side effects. These balloons have a metallic coating that conducts electricity. Here are some safety tips to help make sure metallic balloons are used and disposed of safely:

• Always keep the balloons weighted so they do not accidentally fly away.
• Do not intentionally release balloons.
• Do not tie metallic balloons to children with metallic ribbons. If the balloon comes in contact with electricity the child could receive a fatal shock.
• If a balloon does get in a power line, do not attempt to retrieve it yourself. Contact your power company and emergency services.

Pee Dee Electric wants everyone to enjoy their Valentine’s Day with their special someone. However, when the celebration is over please remember to puncture the balloons and throw them away to keep them safely away from power lines and electrical equipment.